Northern News Services

FORT SIMPSON (Aug 14/98) - Tonya Makletzoff is transforming the village of Fort Simpson with her paintbrushes.

The 25-year-old artist has undertaken a number of highly visible projects this summer, such as painting the 191 square-foot wall below the water intake station along Mackenzie Drive. She has also painted dozens of garbage bins and fire hydrants.

"The idea was just to add some instant color to the community," she said, adding that she proposed all the ideas to village council, who agreed to supply her with the paint. "I think it worked out pretty well. People have been commenting."

Makletzoff is still in the midst of completing her work on the cement wall. The project got off to a slow start. She spent a day drawing a grid in chalk only to have the night's rain wash it all away.

"That was a good work experience," she laughed. "Working in natural elements, you realize you're not in control. You just have to go with the flow of things."

The wall mural, done in oil-based paint, symbolizes the dichotomy between life on the land and life in the city. The left-hand side depicts the traditional ways of life, where scenes are drawn within circles because the entire community is involved in the way of life -- everything is connected -- Makletzoff explained.

On the right-hand side, the images are contained in boxes because there is less continuity in the city and there's more concern about tomorrow than today, she remarked.

"They are like the two realities... especially here in the North," she said.

In the centre the two roads meet and lead into the sun, symbolizing our hope for the future, she said.

She has put in six hours per day over the past two weeks on the project. Prior to that, she had been busy covering dozens of wooden garbage bins with nature scenes and cartoon characters. She has received requests to do many more but, at two to three hours per box, she will have to continue next summer.

Makletzoff has received help from several enthusiastic youths through the Deh Cho Friendship Society. They also began painting garbage bins and assisted her with the mural.

"I was really impressed with this group of young people. They have so much creative energy," she said.

As she drives through town, she admits it's gratifying to see her artwork adorning so many objects.

"It feels good," she said. "For artists, I guess, that's our way of communicating with the rest of the world. People try to decipher it... and it will be there for a long time."

Makletzoff's mother is also an artist and her grandfather was an accomplished architect. She has been drawing since she was a youngster and said she has had three major influences in her life: her art teacher in Yellowknife, Jim Lawrence; her experience at art school in Missassauga, Ontario; and taking Saturday classes at the Art Gallery of Ontario.

"I learned a lot down there in that one year," she said.

But given the choice, she would have attended art school here in the North if one existed.

"There's so much talent up here, it's unreal," she said.

One of her long-term goals is possibly opening an arts centre in the North with emphasis on drama, dancing, music and visual arts.

She does hope to some day be running her own business.

She said she feels it's possible to make it as an artist in the territories because there are plenty of grants available. As well, she has had success in the three art shows she has held -- selling 10 paintings, eight drawings and more than 15 prints. The first painting she ever sold hangs in the dining room of the Nahanni Inn in Fort Simpson.

Next summer, she hopes to paint a mural on the wall of one of the buildings along the main street through the village. She also hopes to keep local youth inspired in the arts since she enjoys working with them.